Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-04-22
a Lullaby.
The Excavations at Pompeii.

The Excavations at Pompeii.
1t seems odd to speak of a dead city as
n growing one. But that is exactly the
case with Pompeii. There are many
cities in Italy that do not grow half as
fast as the one buried by the ashes Of
Vesuvius 500 years ago. Aperson vis-
iting it at intervals of ayear notices
marked enlargement Of its boundaries.
The Italians, you know, are the cham
pion diggers. They make the shovel fly
when they attack the grave Of Pompeii.
We saw gang of them at work there.
A government overseer watched them
like hawk. He wanted 20 be sure that
they pocketed 10 jewelry, coins, or OBJ
jects of art or utility yielded by the ex-
cavations. The only produce of their
toll i'm that line as we stood by was bit
of iron, which the guide called Il hinge,
and the fragment of a small marble
column. The spades busily piled were
gradually bringing TO light beautiful
house. The floors were mosaic, with
simple but graceful designs in scroll pat
tern-nearly as fresh of color as il laid
yesterday. The walls bore frescoes OF
fainter tints-grinning masks, fawns,
cupids, birds, fish and fruit. 1t had ev-
identity been the home Of well'to-do
citizen of Pompei. The nervous move
ments of the workmen betrayed their
anxiety. They were hoping at every
moment to make valuable "iind."
Perhaps they might hit upon great iron
chest, studded with round knobs like a
boiler, and full Of gold, money, or orna-
ments, or they might be startled by COM
ing suddenly upon skull or other hui
man remains. In the latter event, the
work is suspended till careful inspec-
tion is made.
Il responsible and intelligent per-
son in charge proceeds TO ascertain if the
dead Pompeiian has left mould of him
self or herself in the plastic ashes. If so.
he prepares mixture of plaster Of
Paris, breaks hole in the crust, and
slowly pours in the liquid till the mould
Is full. When it has hardened, the
casting is tenderly removed. LO! there
is II rough image, showing some crea-
ture in the agonies of death, prone on
the floor, face downward.
Thus, most usually, were the inhab
itants of the doomed city caught by the
destroying angel. The skull, or leg, or
arm, or whatever other part of the skel
eton has not relapsed into its original
dust, may attach itself to the plaster cast
in the proper place, or may require TO
be joined OIL by pardoLahle "restora-
ton" In either case the effect is thrill.
ing in It's horrible reality. Nothing in
painting or sculpture can shock the be-
holder more than these self-produced
and truthful statues exhibited i'm the
museum, which is the first and most in
teresting thing shown to visitors. But,
though neither gold or silver, mol any,
thing else OF Importance was unearthed
for my benefit, quilted the new eXca-
vations with reluctance to examine
those parts of Pompeii with which the
world is already familiar through the
medium Of books aud pictures. found
myself quite at home in the bakery, the
wine shop, at the oil merchants, at the
houses of Pansa, of Sallust, of the
"Tragic Poet" and the rest. The high
stepping-stones across the streets looked
familiar, as if | had trodden them be-
fore. The deep ruts cut by the carts as
they groaned up the hill, coming from
the ancient Stabia, were like friendly
landmarks. So fully have art and lit
cra.ure made us acquainted with this
disinterred city.
1t may be true, as our guide insists,
that the temples, forums, baths, the
aters, and fine houses now above ground
surpass anything Of the kind that may
hereafter be discovered at Pompeii. But
the Italian government Is not disposed
to take that for granted. Liberal sums
are yearly appropriated TO push on the
work. Ii bears fruit. A new temple
or amphitheater may not be struck
every year, but something is constantly
being turned up to instruct the world in
the manners and customs Of the old Ro
mans, so well reflected in the represen-
;alive city of Pompeii. or bronze or
stone statues, household implements,
and tools of trades, the yield is i'm
mense and steady. These may be count
ed by the thousands in the splendid.mu-
scum at Naples. One can see so many
articles of luxury and use exactly sim
liar 10 those he buys nowadays. that he
is fain to pause and try TO remember
what besides the steam engine, the pho
tograph, and the electric telegraph we
moderns have invented. There being
10 more room at Naples TO store these
treasures, the excess Of them is huddled
together in the court-yards and houses
of Pompeii herself. IL is estimated that
at the present rate this mine of antiqui-
ties Will not be worked out in fifty years.
Journal Of Commerce.
A man from Pine Knob stood watch
ing performance on a slide trombone.